The president of the Bacolod City Government Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has issued a public apology after spoiled food was served to thousands of city workers during a major year-end celebration.
Union Leader Issues Formal Apology
Erry Lagtapon, president of the BCGEU, expressed sincere regret for the incident that marred the Bacolod City Government Year-End Assessment and Employees’ Day on December 19, 2025. The event was held at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
In a statement released on Tuesday, December 23, Lagtapon apologized on behalf of the union's board. He acknowledged that the food spoilage was a disservice to the city's employees and undermined the hard work of the BCGEU Board of Directors who prepared for the event.
Emergency Response and Supplier Accountability
Lagtapon acted swiftly following the complaints. He called an emergency board meeting with the food suppliers the very next day, December 20, and launched an internal investigation.
The suppliers involved pointed to extreme ambient temperature during transit as the likely cause of the spoilage. In response, the BCGEU is taking a firm stance on its contracts.
The union will now strictly enforce a clause in its Contract of Service stating that payment will only be made after the full delivery of food packs in good condition. Any spoilage deemed the supplier's fault will result in immediate replacement during the event or a deduction from the total contract price.
"As of now, we have not paid the suppliers a single cent until we fully determine the total number of spoilages based on official reports from various departments and offices," Lagtapon stated. He admitted the process is tedious but necessary to protect public funds.
Mayor's Directive and Future Safeguards
Mayor Greg Gasataya has taken the matter seriously. He directed all department and office heads to submit written reports on the incident after receiving numerous complaints from employees.
"Such reports are deeply troubling and warrant a thorough and immediate investigation," Mayor Gasataya said. He emphasized that the health and safety of the city's workforce must never be compromised by negligence or mismanagement.
The mayor revealed that a total of P3.2 million was disbursed via a cash advance facilitated by Lagtapon to cover expenses for the 6,650 attendees. While the city government provided full support to the BCGEU as the official organizer, the food quality failure was a significant setback.
Looking ahead, Lagtapon promised a change in strategy. "Rest assured, this will never happen again. No more packed meals. No more spoiled foods," he declared. He confirmed that future employee events will be organized differently and in close coordination with the Office of the City Mayor to ensure accountability and improvements.
